Nothing By Chance Blog

Did you know that 99% of people are already doing what they think is best for themselves and their career? Think about that for a second. There are 1% crazy, self-sabotaging people out there intentionally messing up their life and career. However, everyone else, and I am guessing you since you are reading this, are already doing what you think …

After a long harsh day of facing reality, what do you do to escape? Maybe you stop by the gas station on the way home for a six pack of Heineken. Maybe you shop. Maybe you smoke a little pot on the back porch just to get the edge off. Maybe you eat, and eat, and eat. Maybe you zone …

Next to the driveway of my childhood friend’s house lived one of the kindest gray haired ladies in our small Michigan town. On a delightful summer morning her large picture window overlooking that gravel depository became a source of inspiration. I blurted my 10-year old cognitive flash to my friend, “Look how close I can pitch this stone to Miss Epler’s window!” And …

This has come to mean many things in today’s increasingly regulated and politically correct world. It could well be a synonym for an expression like ‘media-savvy’ or indeed, a word for the closet politicians amongst us to hide behind when things aren’t going their way. They will often counter with a defensively worded opinion about wanting to share a more …

Little people blow me away. They don’t know what an “AHA” moment is because “magic” seems to accompany them often and they have the presence of mind to celebrate these wonders: After a hard, spring rain a sidewalk strewn with earthworms; fluttering “helicopters” from the maple trees; an overflowing Easter basket; her first gold finch sighting; his first landed fish. …

Have you ever wondered why doing “things” to the extreme feels so good? I have been an extremist my entire life. When I drink, I drink a lot and I get drunk, even when I know I should stop. When I am proud of myself for achieving something good, I eat and eat and eat. I will only stop when the restaurant runs …

Few things, maybe nothing, is more valuable to give up than a grudge. More typically thought to be a gift to the person who violated one’s trust or virtue, to give up a grudge is much more a gift to oneself. Even better, each person is entirely in control of whether or not she gifts herself by forgiving. First, let’s be clear …

Have you ever made room for dessert, even though you were already full? Ever dove into a pint (quart) of ice cream when you are feeling down? Then you have experienced “Emotional Eating”, which is using food to make you feel better, rather than to nourish.This weekly program, which meets for eight weeks, is facilitated with all materials included …

Recently, I was part of a conversation about individuality: what it means and looks like as well as its value in society. Early on in our discussion, a colleague mentioned the individuality between snowflakes and a vision popped into my head of lemmings jumping off a cliff. In this era of corporate Reductions in Force (RIF’s), restructurings, and un/underemployment, does …

Congratulations. You made it through another year. It’s that time. Time to make New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions focus on things to change…sometimes with great success, sometimes with no success. Why are resolutions so difficult to keep? One reason, people just don’t know themselves very well. Those of us around Nothing By Chance spend lots of time getting to know ourselves each year. One of the …

What is your alignment strategy? Alignment is when you get in sync with other people and organizations whose values/beliefs and driving force (together these are your Freakness) match or are similar to yours. Think about places you love to frequent. Why do you go to Starbucks? Why not Seattle’s Best Coffee or McDonald’s? Why did you buy an iPhone, not a …

A person saying that she or he believes in something is frequently making a statement of conviction. “I, too, have seen objects fall and I believe in gravity.” Thanks to Newton, there is little controversy about believing that. There is another aspect of belief that is conjecture. As in, “I believe Melville made that reference in another book, not just …

JOY noun \ˈjȯi\ : a feeling of great happiness : a source or cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone : success in doing, finding, or getting something : the expression or exhibition of such emotion There is no need to try to figure out a true definition of joy because it is impossible to …

To all those who do not have a deep well of camp songs to draw from, I’m sorry. For the rest of us, sing along with voice at full: I’ve got joy, joy, joy, joy deep in my heart, YES, deep in my heart, LORD, deep in my heart… To all those who do have this song in their well, …